Valentine's Look Using Urban Decay's Naked3 Palette

I'll be honest...I hate Valentine's Day. It has nothing to do with a bitter breakup or a bad experience. I simply believe this "holiday" puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on guys to find a perfect gift or special reservations and gives girls unrealistic expectations of a magical, romantic evening on Valentine's Day. I also hate boxes of chocolate. They are nasty! I'm one of the only people in the world who loves the coconut chocolates. Growing up, my mom and sisters saved their coconut chocolates for me, and even though they had been squished to reveal the inside, I happily traded my unwanted chocolates for these delicious creations. Flowers can be nice. The thing is...these are things that should happen throughout the year or the relationship. Not just because it's a holiday marked in the calendar.
**Note to guys: It's much better to handwrite a note or letter to your special girl than pick up a cheesy Hallmark card last minute and a stuffed animal. Definitely no stuffed animals!!! Unless your date is five. Then that would be acceptable and most likely preferred.

However, being a makeup junkie, this holiday gives me inspiration to create new looks. I came up with this tonight, and loved the finished look. I used only shades from the Urban Decay Naked3 palette. You can read my full review here.

What you need:

• Naked3 palette (or similar colors...the idea here is the placement of the shadows and the warm, rosy tones in the shades)-I used Buzz, Nooner, and Blackheart
• Shadow primer-I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion
• Liquid or gel liner in black-I used the L'Oreal felt tip Slim Liner
• Pencil liner in black-I used Nars Via Veneto
• Mascara-I used L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess
• Pink blush- I used Nars Deep Throat
• Pale pink lipstick- I used MAC Angel
• Highlighter- I used Benefit's Watts Up

What you do:
Start by sweeping Buzz all over the lid.

 

 

Use Nooner in the crease. Focus the color on the outer half of the lid and blend along the entire crease. Using the color left on the brush or with a pencil brush, sweep this color along the bottom lash line.

 



 

 

Pick up a tiny bit of Blackheart on your brush. A little of this color goes a long way!! Place this color ONLY on the very outer corner of the lid. Do not bring the color into the crease. Blend out. Using a liner brush, line just the outer third of the lower lash line with Blackheart.

 

 

Line the upper lash line with the liquid or gel liner. I chose to wing it out, but you don't have to do this if you prefer a straight line.

 

 

Using the pencil liner, line your water line on the bottom only. You can line all the way around if you like.

 



 

Add loads of mascara. Focus on the outer and middle lashes. Next time I will probably add single false lashes to make them look fuller.





 

 

 

Here is the full finished look. I kept blush neutral with Nars Deep Throat and added a highlight along my cheekbones with Benefit's Watts Up. For lips, I chose a neutral pale pink with MAC's lipstick in Angel.

 

 

 

I hope you like this look! Let me know if you try it for yourself :)

A tutorial for bridesmaids!

Last weekend, I had the privilege and honor of being a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding. Diana is already beautiful, but she looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day! (See pictures below.) I did the hair and makeup for one other bridesmaid (also my best friend, Brittany) and myself. I think the look also works for a date night or night on the town.

I LOVED Diana's red lip! Perfection. Diana's makeup was done by Jackie of Rawwbeauty Makeup Artistry. Check her out on Facebook (don't forget to "like") and on her website!

 

Post-makeup with Brittany

 

A little clearer shot of the makeup. The gray shadow makes Brittany's blue eyes really pop!

 



 

If you like the look, here is how I got it:

What I used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC eyeshadows All that glitters and Shroom

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette eyeshadow in Pistol and Blackout



Maybelline Gel eyeliner in Blackest Black
Benefit They're Real! mascara


What you do:
(I've included real pictures as well as a sketch in case it's easier to see what I'm talking about.)

 

1. Start by priming the entire lid and bottom lash line. 

2. Sweep All that glitters over the entire lid up to the brow bone.
3. Work Pistol into the crease, forming a sideways V shape at the outer corner. This may sound weird, but just follow the natural curve at the top of your eyeball. To add a little more definition, use Blackout only on the very outside corner.
4. Following the bottom of the V, bring Pistol down on outer half of the lower lash line.
5. For a subtle highlight, use Shroom in the corner and inner half of the lower lash line. You can also sweep this shade across the brow bone.
6. Line the top lash line with the Maybelline eyeliner. Use whatever is left on the brush to line the outer half of the lower lashline.
7. Add at least two coats of mascara or a few falsies if you want!

To finish off the look, I used Revlon's lipstick in Primrose. This is basically how I do my eyeshadow on an every day basis. Try using the same shading with other colors. I usually stick to neutral shades like the Naked palettes.

Diana, you're wedding could not have been more perfect! I am so thankful to have been a part of it, and I'm so proud of you and Wil! You guys are such a blessing to me. I love y'all. And Brittany, thanks for trusting me! (haha) I love you too!